About Abuse

To live a life free of abuse and fear is a fundamental human right. Abuse robs women of their self esteem, affects the development of their children and creates a cycle that can be carried on for generations to come. Monetarily speaking, billions of dollars a year are spent in Canada as a direct result of abuse.

THE FACTS

“According to the 1993 Canadian VAWS, men who witnessed their mothers being physically abused by their fathers as children were three times more likely to be violent in their own marital relationships than men who grew up in non-violent homes (Johnson, 1996). Although most research has focused on male violence toward their partner, there is some evidence that women who witnessed inter-parental violence in childhood have a higher likelihood of using violence against their own spouses or dating partners (Avakame, 1998; Breslin et al., 1990). In addition, women who witnessed their mothers being abused are more likely to have low-self esteem as adults (Silvern et al., 1995), and are significantly more likely to suffer from abuse in their own marital relationships (Dauvergne and Johnson, 2001).” (Source: Public Health Agency of Canada)

“Research has shown that, each year, woman abuse costs billions of dollars in Canada. The first-ever estimate of the costs associated with woman abuse (and some other forms of violence against women) came to at least $4.2 billion per year in social services, education, criminal justice, labour, employment, health and medical costs.

Woman abuse—and all forms of gender-based violence—has wide-ranging consequences for women’s health and for the health system.The health-related costs of woman abuse have been estimated at more than $1.5 billion per year. This includes the costs of immediate medical attention and dental treatment, lost time at work (paid and unpaid), long-term medical treatment, psychiatric hospital stays (all types), use of transition homes and crisis centres, and other prevention and treatment initiatives.“ (Source: Statistics Canada)